Page 48 of Falling for the Beast

The door shut soundly and the lock clicked into place.

Aribelle tried not to be disappointed. She had taken a big chance even coming here. There had been such a slim hope that she’d even answer the door. Still, defeat swirled around her as she walked back to the bike and slipped her helmet back on.

Thaddeus didn’t say anything. He simply waited for her to mount and grab hold of him before taking off down the street. Aribelle cursed herself for not having the right words to say to Catherine. She’d been so lame. ‘He’s changed.’ Was that all she could think of to say? What about the hundreds upon hundreds of people he’d healed? What about the times he had gone out looking for people to help? How could she have summed that all up with, ‘He’s changed?’

The reality of the situation dawned on her, and she blinked back tears. She wanted to heal him like he’d done for her. She wanted to make him whole again. But Thaddeus was right. He was going to be like this forever. This was his life. And she needed to admit it. She silently let her tears fall.

By the time he pulled up to his house, she’d pulled herself together. She needed to show him she was strong. That this part of him wasn’t abhorrent to her. She needed to accept him…all of him.

When they entered his living room, she turned to him, putting her hands on his cheeks. “I’m sorry I didn’t communicate well with Catherine.”

Defeat shone in his eyes. “Wasn’t anything you could have said. I realized that a long time ago. I am what I am, and nothing will change it.”

“I know.” She pulled him down and brushed her lips across his. Emotions rushed through her. She wanted him to know she cared for him. Deeply. Maybe even loved him.

The thought made her throat tighten. Did she love Thaddeus Walker? As he wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss, she knew it was true. Her feelings could not be ignored any longer. She was in love with him.

Her heart swelled. When he broke the kiss, she snuggled into his chest. She needed to tell him she loved him. That she didn’t care what he looked like, or what curse the witch had placed on him. She loved the man inside. But how would he react to her? Would it scare him off?

She wasn’t sure, but she decided to tell him tonight, after dinner.

Chapter 21

Thaddeus watched Aribelle as sheate the ratatouille he’d made for supper. He loved the way her nose wrinkled when she laughed. And the way she looked at life, with vigor and imagination. She was always comparing situations to things that had happened in books or movies. She was meant to be an entertainer. A writer.

After dinner, he took the plates to the dishwasher and then turned to Aribelle. “There’s something I want to show you.”

A mischievous glint shone in her eye. “Okay.”

“Come upstairs.” He led her up to the office and opened the desk drawer and pulled out his laptop. “I want you to have this.”

She blinked. “What?”

He wanted to word this right, so she wouldn’t get angry at him like last time, so he shuffled his feet and tried to think of how to say it. Then a brilliant idea hit him and he smiled. “I want to pay for the rest of your online classes, so you can finally get your degree.”

Her mouth fell open. “Seriously? I can’t let you do that.”

“Yes, you can.” He caressed her cheek. “I want you to finish your degree and become a writer. I think that’s what truly will make you happy.”

“But that’s too much. I can’t accept.”

“My father left me with more wealth than I can spend. It’s not a problem. I want to do this for you.”

She smiled and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you!” She kissed his cheek and jumped up and down. “I can’t believe it.”

He suddenly wished he had more presents he could give her. A whole house full. He wanted to give her everything she ever dreamed about. “Take the laptop. You can keep it. You’ll need it when classes start.”

“Are you sure about this?”

Her large, brown eyes seemed to swallow him up. He ran his fingers across her jawbone. “Yes. I’m sure. I want you to be happy.”

She smiled up at him, and he realized he really did want her to be happy. And staying here, with him, wasn’t going to accomplish that. He needed to get back to his life. Back to what he did at night, and healing from his wounds during the day. He had to get the beast in him under control. And Aribelle had proven that she couldn’t handle that part of his life, no matter how accepting she was about his appearance. She worried too much when he didn’t come home. Agonized over a simple broken bone or internal injury. She would spend her nights fretting over where he was and how he would come home. Her days would be spent cleaning up after him because he’d be recovering.

It wasn’t fair to keep her with him, and he knew it.

“Thank you,” she said.

“And I think it’s time I find you a new apartment.” He turned from her as soon as he saw the stunned look on her face. “I’ll search the internet tonight.”

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